Data in the time of cholera: an assessment of global data resources for optimising surveillance, response and control.

Abstract

Cholera represents a public health threat worldwide and an indicator of poverty, inequity and lack of social development, disproportionately affecting low-income and middle-income countries. Accessible global cholera data resources are essential to support timely, data-driven disease surveillance, response and control efforts. This analysis aims to identify, collate and describe online open-access cholera resources. 31 resources associated with multilateral agencies, academic institutions and non-profit organisations were identified, encompassing dashboards (n=16/31, 51.6%), reports or bulletins (n=12/31, 38.7%) and outbreak reporting systems (n=3/31, 9.7%). The majority of resources were affiliated with the WHO (n=19/31, 61.3%). Other affiliations comprised other United Nations (UN) and multilateral agencies (n=9/31, 29.0%), a non-profit organisation (n=1/31, 3.2%) and academic institutions (n=2/31, 6.5%). Most resources had global scope (n=21/31, 67.7%), provided data to national or subnational levels (n=27/31, 87.1%) and demonstrated variable temporal resolution and reporting frequency. 11 resources affiliated with national institutions were described, reporting predominantly weekly cholera data to the subnational level. Resources comprised epidemiological reports and bulletins, infectious disease dashboards and integrated disease surveillance and response platforms. This analysis highlights cholera resources available to researchers, healthcare workers and policy-makers, which may direct disease programmes and research activities and support Global Task Force on Cholera Control roadmap 2030 targets. National resources provided detailed subnational cholera data and complemented cholera reporting by multilateral agencies. Timely review of these resources is warranted.